125,604 evacuated as typhoon hits Philippines

Manila – More than 125,000 people were evacuated to safety as typhoon Haiyan, believed to be the strongest cyclone of the year, made landfall over Guiuan municipality in the Philippines Friday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Haiyan made its second landfall over Leyte province in the country’s eastern coast.

The centre of the typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 235 km per hour (kph) with gustiness of up to 275 kph, reports Xinhua.

In Surigao Del Nore, 28,807 people were evacuated.

“No reports of casualties have been received, but Siargao Island is in total blackout. Five houses have been totally damaged, four others were partially damaged,” said Albert Caber, spokesman of the eastern mindanao command of the Armed Forces of the Philippine.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, typhoon warning signal No. 4 has been hoisted in 25 provinces in central and southern Philippines.